Social Media

TalentTrove Helps Creatives Build Online Portfolios For Free

This post is part of Mashable's Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.

Quick Pitch: TalentTrove creates a level playing field for all of those without the time, money or contacts for self-promotion.

Genius Idea: TalentTrove is a social networking site built around user-generated content. Whereas users of YouTube might upload any video they find interesting, the focus of TalentTrove is each person's individual talent, regardless of what kind of content he or she creates. That means only original works are shared on the site.

The categories of work include Acting, Comedy, Cooking, Dance, Fashion, Film, How To, Models, Music, Sports, Visual Arts, Writing and Other. There are subcategories under each of those; for example, the Fashion channel includes Clothing, Hair and Makeup subchannels. Basically, whatever you create, you can put it on TalentTrove.

That's what makes the site unique. Sure, DeviantArt lets you share poems and artwork, but TalentTrove lets you share so much more, and you can do it in an elegant and professional-looking interface. You can also do it all for free on the ad-supported site.

There's another important angle on the free-to-use bit, too. TalentTrove is committed to maintaining a level playing field for all the creators who share their content on the site. There are no lines, and the service doesn't sell advantages like spots on the featured list. The hope is that users will be able to launch their creative careers regardless of their individual backgrounds or circumstances.

All the creations a user wants to display appear on his or her "MyStage." That's a profile like you'll find on just about any social networking site. While competitor MySpace can be used to show off music and videos, it lacks the razor sharp focus of TalentTrove. If you want a landing page to show off your portfolio to potential partners, clients, or whomever else you want to win over, TalentTrove is a clean solution.

Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark

BizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.

Samuel Axon is a digital content producer in New York City. He has worked as an editor at Engadget, Mashable and the Joystiq network, and currently leads content strategy as Editorial Director at Sprout Social.

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